Vertical venetian blind traverse apparatus



Oct. 25, 1966 R. J. ELDREDGE, JR., ETAL 3,230,891

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND TRAVERSE APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l //v VENTO/PS PICA/APO 1540250612, J/a Cl. mam/0E M. K/Rna GER/4L0 M pusuv JAMES E. Loan/v Arm/ 59 1966 R. J. ELDREDGE, JR., ETAL 3,230,891

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND TRAVERSE APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VENTORS P/CHAPDJ. flapzoalsJxa CAAPE/VCZ M. MPTLV 652/240 M. (Mus/xv JAMES loan/v 1966 R. J. ELDREDGE, JR.. ETAL 3,230,891

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND TRAVERSE APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 //v VE/VTORS 4 RICHARD 1520950615} JR.

6/. .QPE/VOE M. A/IPTLEV 65/2440 M; 6905/ JAMES E. Loan/v 25, 1966 R. J. ELDREDGE, JR., ETAL 3,280,891

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND TRAVERSE APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 P/cHp/w J. 4 DPEDGE, JR, CLARENCE MI K/Rn 0/ 65mm M. G'PUS/N JAMES A. Loam/v fiTTOP/VEV United States Patent 3,280,891 VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND TRAVERSE APPARATUS Richard J. Eldredge, Jr., 920 28th St., West Des Moines, Iowa; Clarence M. Kirtley, 5000 Woodland, Des Moines, Iowa; Gerald M. Grusin, 400 W. Deming St., Chicago, Ill.; and James E. Logan, 637 Brummel Sh, Evanston, Ill.

Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,730 8 Claims. (Cl. 160-172) This invention relates generally to Venetian blinds, and in particular to a vertical blind having vertically disposed louvers, shiftable laterally in the manner of draw drapes, and rotatable about their vertical axes to adjust the light entry.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved vertical Venetian blind.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved vertical Venetian blind of the horizontally traversable, vertically rotatable louver type.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel horizontally reciprocal carrier for holding a louver at either end thereof, and wherein the carrier includes means for rotating the louver about a vertical axis.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a novel control arrangement for cooperation with the carrier to reciprocal-1y move the carrier on the horizontal, and to coact with the carrier means to rotate its louver.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel louver rotating means and further to provide a novel structure for rotating the means.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel unit for securing a louver to a carrier, whereby the louver is easily assembled to and detached from the carrier, and further wherein the louver is held continually taut.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertical blind traverse apparatus wherein the connecting stems between the carrier and the louver extend through an extremely narrow slit so as to obviate as much as possible foreign objects entering the carrier and cable area of the apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a housing for the operating structure and the carriers, which housing is so constructed to permit excellent maintenance access while still being capable of substantially complete enclosure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control arrangement wherein but a short pull on a cord provides a complete rotation of a louver.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carrier and control arrangement adapted for use with either the upper ends of a plurality of vertical louvers, or with both upper and lower ends thereof, and with only one section of louvers capable of being traversed completely across a window, or with a pair of sections the louvers of which are traversably movable toward and away from each other and, for example, from the center of a window.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel vertical blind traverse apparatus wherein the inner blind can be readily released from its normally fixed position, and with the louvers pulled to an expanded condition, the louvers can be manually contracted toward and away from the center-most louver to enable washing the window directly behind the normally fixed louver.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel vertical blind traverse apparatus capable of attaining all of the above designated objectives and which is economical to manufacture, effective in operation, and easy to service.

Patented Oct. 25, 1966 These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the vertical blind traverse apparatus of this invention assembled in a window frame and in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational View similar to FIG. 1 with the blind partially traversed to an open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, foreshortened horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1 and showing the traversing mechanism in top plan view;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 and showing a carrier in elevation, and showing further the securement of an upper end of a louver to a depending stem of a carrier, with a flexible element shown in dotted lines for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectionaltaken along the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical, fragmentary elevational view of a plurality, three in particular, of carriers shown in their closed or contracted, face-to-face position, and showing a vertical section through each end of a louver;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 77 in FIG. 3 and showing the tension adjustment-end of the drive shaft in side elevation;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 3 and showing the drive unit for the drive shaft in side elevation;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of several louvers adjacent one end of a carrier housing and showing a slide fastener arrangement;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the slide fastener of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the control arrangement for the traverse apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing the louvers moved manually together after the inner fixed louver is released;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the flexible spring fastener partially inserted, or removed from, a louver stem, for securing the stem and louver together;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the .line 1515 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 16-16 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 17-17 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the drive shaft unit; and

FIGS. 19 and 20 are vertical views showing rotational positions of an eccentric cam and drive plate arrangement from the drive unit of FIG. 18.

Referring now to the drawings, the vertical Venetian blind traverse apparatus, hereinafter referred to as the blind, is indicated generally at 20 in FIG. 1 and is shown assembled to a window frame 21 with the louvers 22 thereof in a closed position shutting out the light.

For the purpose of clarity of describing the invention, only one blind section is shown, with all louvers traversely movable either away from or toward a semi-fixed louver 22 at the left side of the blind section as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be remembered, however, that the invention is equally applicable to a pair of blind sections with each outer louver semi-fixed, and with the louvers of each section traversable toward and away from each other.

It is further noted that both upper and lower traversing mechanism housing units 23 and 24 are used, secured respectively to the upper and lower portions 26 and 27 of the window frame 21. Nevertheless, only the upper housing unit 23 need be used, with the lower ends of the louvers 22 either completely free of each other or merely string-connected to cut down on their swaying, and the invention would still be complete.

As each housing unit 23 and 24 is the same, only the upper housing unit 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4) will be described. It is comprised of three elongated parts of aluminum extrusion, a right angular housing 28 closed on three sides (FIG. 4) and open on one side, and a pair of identical trim strips 29 and 31. A pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shelves 32 and 33 are formed on each inner side of the housing, and with each shelf 33 including a pair of depending, diverging projections 34 and 36, as seen in cross section in FIG. 4. The facing surfaces of the shelves 32 and 33 are smooth for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

Each trim strip 29 and 31 has an upstanding pair of parallel legs 37 and 38 and a horizontally disposed leg 39. The legs 37 and 38 have inwardly projected beads 37' and 38' at their upper ends, are spaced so as to snap on and off the projections 34 and 36; and when both trim strips 29 and 31 are attached, the widths of the legs 39 are such that a relatively narrow gap 41 (FIG. 4) exists therebetween. The arrangement is such that the upper side 42 of the housing 28 is aflixed by screws or the like to the wood framing. Were the housing 28 used for the lower housing unit 24, the housing 28 and the trim strips 29 and 31 would bemerely inverted, with the side 42 being attached to the frame lower portion 27. 7 Within the upper housing unit 23, as is within the lower housing unit 24, are a plurality of identical carriers 43 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) arranged in a face-to-face relation, and which are mounted on an elongated drive shaft 44. The drive shaft 44 extends the complete length of the housing unit 23, has the shape of a gear with teeth in cross-section (FIG. 4), and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis by a drive unit indicated generally at 46 in FIGS. 3 and 8, and illustrated by exploded view in FIG. 18.

The carriers 43 are each provided with a pair of wheels 47 and 48 (FIG. 4) at opposite sides thereof, the wheels riding on the smooth surface of the lower housing shelf 33. Also, they are interconnected by a pantograph structure indicated generally at 49 in FIG. 3 and which is commonly referred to as a lazy tong arrangement. The pantograph structure includes a connector 51 secured to the top of each carrier 43 and having a raised center portion 52 (FIG. 4) with a projection 53 (FIG. to which is pivotally connected a pair of pantograph arms 54 and 56. The arms are identical and are connected one upon the other (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Where a pair of arms are not pivotally connected at their centers to each other and to a connector projection 53, they are merely connected together, as at 57 in FIG. 3. By having the same number of arms connected between each carrier 43, irrespective of the expanded or contracted nature of the pantograph structure, the carriers 43 and thus the louvers 22 are always equally spaced. Upon a contraction of the pantograph structure, the projection 53 fits into a cutout 58 (FIGS. 3 and 5) in the adjacent connector 51. Thus the connectors 51 are placed in a contiguous position as are all of the pantograph arms 54 and 56 (FIG. 6). When contracted, all carriers 43 are engaged in a face-to-face relation.

As the carriers 43 are identical, only one carrier 43 best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 will be described. Each carrier is made of Delrin, except for rivets, whereas the connectors 51 and pantograph arms 54 and 56 are of metal. The carrier 43 includes, in addition to the wheels 47 and 48, an upper half 59 (FIG. 4), a U-shaped lower half 61 with ears 62 riveted to the upper half 59, a rack 63 reciprocally movable transversely of the housing 28 within a cavity 64 (FIG. 5) provided therefor in the upper half 59, and a louver stem unit indicated generally at 66.

The upper half 59 has a pair of transversely spaced and aligned passages 67 formed therein longitudinally of the housing 28, and also has a large aperture 68 formed therein parallel to and intermediate the passages 67. The aperture 68 communicates With the cavity 64 and is of a diameter to rotatably receive the drive shaft 44, whereby the drive shaft 44 is placed in mesh with the upper teeth 70 of the rack 63. The length of the cavity 64 is sulficient to enable slightly more than a 180 rotation of the drive shaft 44.

The rack 63 (FIGS. 4 and 5) slides on top of the lower half 61 and is in mesh with a pinion 69 which with an elongated stem 71 comprises the stem unit 66. A bore 72 (FIG. 5) is formed in the lower half 61 for receiving the stem 71 whereby the pinion 69 is in mesh with the face teeth 73 of the rack 63. A 180 rotation of the drive shaft 44 results in a 180 rotation of the stem 71 about its vertical axis.

An elongated slot 74 (FIGS. 4, 6 and 14) is formed in the exposed end of the stem 71 and which slot has upper and lower ends 76 and 77. The lower end 77 has a convex curvature relative to the stem 71 for a purpose hereinafter seen. The slot 74 is particularly adapted for use with a flexible spring 78 for attachment to an end 22a of a louver 22.

Both upper and lower ends of a louver 22 are reversed upon themselves and sewn or otherwise secured as at 79 (FIG. 6) whereby to form a loop 81. An opening 80 (FIG. 15) is formed centrally in the loop 81 along its top edge for entry therein of the exposed end of a louver stem 71. A spring 78 is then insertable into the loop 81 from one end, for example the left end 82 in FIG. 4, and through the stem slot 74 until locked in the stem 71 in the position of FIG. 4.

Each spring 78 (FIGS. 14-17) comprises a single piece of spring steel music wire including a straight leg 83, an upright portion 84, a bent leg 86 partially engageable with the straight leg 83, and a locking leg 87 having a hooked end 88.

All portions of the spring 78 (FIG. 14) are disposed in a single plane (FIG. 15 with the bent leg 86 sprung toward the straight leg 83, and the locking leg 87 sprung away from the straight and bent legs. When the spring 78 is inserted into the slot 74 from the left thereof as viewed in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 17), the straight leg 83 engages the upper end 76 of the slot 74, and the locking leg 87 engages the lower end 77 thereof. As the normal spacing between the straight and locking legs is greater than the length of the slot 74, it will be appreciated that the locking leg 87 is flexed toward the straight leg 83 as the spring 78 is forced into the slot 74.

Upon the hooked end 88 reaching the lower end 77 of the slot 74, the concavely formed hooked end 88 grasps the convexly formed end 77 in a complementary manner, thereby resiliently locking the spring 78 to the stem 71, and thus resiliently locking the louver 22 to the stem 71. It should be noted that the louvers 22, or slats, are maintained in a taut condition when the springs 78 at each end thereof abut the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower slots 74, respectively, by having the lengths of the slats 22 slightly less than the distance between the upper end of the slot 74 (FIG. 17) of the upper stem member and the lower end of the slot 74 of the lower stem member. To increase the grasping strength of the spring 78, the locking leg 87 need merely be manually sprung further away from the bent leg 86,

Referring to FIG. 4, it may readily be seen that the formation of the hooked end 88 prevents further movement of the spring to the right without complete distortion of the spring. However, due to the flexibility of the spring and the complementary curvature of the hooked end 88 and the slot lower end 77, upon grasping the upright portion 84 and pulling to the left, gently holding the louver end 22a about the stem 71 with another hand so 5 as to hold the stern steady, the locking leg 87 will give toward the straight leg 83.

As best seen in FIG. 14 where the spring 78 is shown being pulled to the left, after pulling the spring 78 sufficiently to force the crest 89 of locking leg 87 past the slot end 77, the spring 78 is easily removed, enabling the louver end 22a to be separated from the louver stem 71. By thisarrangement, the upper straight edge 91 (FIG. 4) can be located contiguous with the lower (or upper as the case may be) surface 92 of the trim strips horizontal legs 39. Furthermore, accidental disengagement of the louvers 22 from the stems 71, or even partial disengagement is virtually impossible. The extreme thinness of the spring connection enables the louvers 22, when closed upon each other with a three-eighths inch overlap, to be practically flat upon each other to close out all light.

To rotate the stems 71 of all the carriers 43 simultaneously is provided by the drive shaft 44 which is inserted through each carrier aperture 68 in mesh with each rack 63. Referring to FIG. 12, the control arrangement for both rotating the stems 71 of the car-riers 43 and reciprocally moving the carriers toward and away from a semifixed pair of carriers 43' is illustrated. Although only one pair of outer carriers 43" is shown, it may be realized that many others are interposed therebetween, as

shown in FIG. 3.

At the left end (FIG. 3) of each drive shaft 44 is the drive unit 46, which includes a drive wheel 93, with both drive wheels interconnected by a continuous, two-run cord 96. The right end of each drive shaft is supported by a tension adjustment unit 94 (FIGS. 3 and 7). As indicated by arrows in FIG. 12, upon a downward pull of the front run of the cord 96, both Wheels 93 are rotated clockwise and thus both drive shafts 44 are rotated clockwise. Were the front run pulled upwardly, the wheels 93 and drive shafts 44 would be rotated counterclockwise.

Each drive unit 46 also includes a pair of drive pulleys 97 and 98 (FIGS. 3 and 12), mounted as described hereinafter for supportinga continuous cord 99. As best seen in FIG. 12, the cord 99 has a lower double run 99a trained around an idler pulley 101, and an upper double run 99b trained around 'an upper idler pulley 102 (see also FIG. 3). Each run 99a and 9% are inserted through the respective passages 67 provided therefor in the carriers (see FIG. 4). The outer movable carriers 43" in FIG. 12 are secured to a respective run by beads 103 formed on the front run of the upper run 99b, and formed on the rear run of the run 99a. Both idler pulleys 101 and 102 are rotatably mounted on spindles 100 secured to the respective housings 28 (FIG. 7).

Thus, upon movement of the vertical portion of the cable 99 to effect movement of the lower run 99a in FIG. 12 as indicated by the arrows, the lower carrier 43 moves to the left as does the upper carrier 43. Remembering the pantograph structure 49 (FIG. 3) which interconnects all the carriers 43, upon movement of the outer carriers 43" toward the semi-fixed carriers 43', all of the carriers will attain a face-to-face contiguous position (FIG. 6) at the left side of the apparatus 20. FIG. 2 shows the louvers 24 retracted by their carriers to a half-closed position.

Thus, by an extremely short pull of 6" at the most on the cord 96 (FIG. 12), the carrier stems 71 and the louvers 24 carried thereby may be rotated in one direction 180, and by moving the cord 96 in the opposite direction, the louvers may be rotated to any position in an opposite direction. Additionally, depending upon the vertical pull of the cord 99, the louvers may be moved from a completely retracted position to a completely expanded position (FIG. 1), or to any intermediate position, with 'the louvers always equally spaced.

6 viewed, instead of toward the left, a slide fastener plate 104 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is provided on both the upper and lower housings 28 (FIG. 10). The plate 104 has a pair of transversely aligned and spaced slots 106 and 107 formed therein by which the plate may be secured, as by screws, 108, across the gap 41 formed between the horizontal legs 39 of the trim strips 31, An L-shaped cutout 109 is also formed in the plate 104, and when the plate 104 is held in the full line position of FIG. 11, it is seen that the stem 71 of the inner carrier 41' is fixedly secured.

However, upon releasing the plate 104 for movement by untightening the screws 108, and moving the plate to the dotted line position of FIG. 11, the stem 71 and thus the carrier 43' can be moved to the right, whereby the louvers 22 may be temporarily gathered as shown in FIG. 13, enabling the normally uncovered window area behind the semi-fixed inner louver 43' to be serviced.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the drive unit 46 (FIG. 3) and the tension adjustment unit 94 rotatably support the drive shaft 44 in the housing 28 in a horizontally disposed manner, and provide for rotation of the drive shaft about its longitudinal axis. To help maintain the drive shaft 44 in a horizontal position, the tension adjustment unit 94 (see also FIG. 7) includes a receptacle 110 for the outer end of the drive shaft 44 and which is secured thereto. The receptacle 110, rotatable with the drive shaft, is secured to a stub shaft 111 which is inserted through and supported by a hanger bracket 112 secured to the housing 28. The outer end of the shaft 111 is threaded and engaged by a nut 113. Thus, by predetermined rotation of the nut 113, a jack screw effect results, increasing or lessening the tension upon the drive shaft 44. Any tendency of the drive shaft to sag is thereby obviated.

The drive unit 46, shown in plan view in FIG. 3, side elevation in FIG. 8, and exploded view inFIG. 18, includes an L-shaped hanger bracket 116 having a horizontal portion 117 affixed to the housing 28, and a vertical portion 118 which acts as an end to the housing 28 and a support for one end of a connecting shaft 119. An opening 121 is formed in the portion 118 for receiving a bearing housing 122, and a bearing 123 through which the shaft 119 is inserted and secured by a snap ring 124.

The aforementioned drive wheel 93 is securely mounted on the shaft 119 adjacent the portion 118 and has a circular part afiixed thereto with a cam 126 integral therewith, and which cam 126 is eccentric relative to a passage 127 formed therein through which the shaft 119 extends. A stabilizer 128 comprising a flat plate smooth on both sides and with an opening centrally thereof is loosely mounted on the connecting shaft 119. The stabilizer 128 has a circular shape except for a finger portion 129 having an elongated, horizontally disposed slot 130. As viewed in FIGS. 8 and 19, the finger portion 129 embraces a lug 131 integral with the bracket 116 and formed by a cut-out 135. Thus, the finger portion 129 extends laterally through the cut-out so as not to engage the undersurface of the horizontal portion 117, it being noted that the slot 130 is longer in transverse width than the width of the lug 131 (FIG. 19). Affixed to the face of the stabilizer 128 opposite the eccentric cam 126 face is a wobble gear 132 having a plurality of arcuately spaced, radially spaced shoulders concentric with an opening 133 for the connecting shaft 119.

Facing the wobble gear 132 is a ratchet wheel 134 having a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable by and with said shoulders in a manner described hereinafter. The ratchet 134 is securely mounted on the connecting shaft 119, and concentric therewith. To prevent more than a rotation of the shaft 119, and thus the drive shaft 44 to which its receptacle end 136 is pinned, a stop plate 137 is secured to the connecting shaft 119. The stop plate 137 has a flat side 138 and a semicircularly curved side 139, with the flat side 138 disposed on the vertical as illustrated in FIG. 18. Thus, in the position of the stop plate 137 in FIG. 18 the connecting shaft 119 can only be rotated clockwise, Where after slightly more than 180 rotation, the corner 141 of the stop plate strikes the horizontal portion 117 of the bracket 116. The connecting shaft 119 is then rotatable counterclockwise until the opposite corner 142 engages the portion 117. It will be remembered that the carrier stems 71 rotate a complete 180 in response to a 180 rotation of the drive shaft 44.

Adjacent the stop plate 137, a hanger plate 143 is mounted at its flanges to the hanger bracket 116 and has a pair of Delrin supports 144 secured thereto which in ,turn rotatably support the drive pulleys 97 and 98. The

pulleys are mounted on bearings (not shown) integral therewith and rotatable on a pin inserted through the hanger plate 143.

Operation of the drive Wheel 93 (FIGS. 3 and 18) results in a reduced rate of the drive of the connecting shaft 119 as follows. Rotation of the drive wheel 93 results in like rotation of the cam 126 whereby the stabilizer 128 is moved. As the finger portion 129 engages the stationary lug 131, the stabilizer 128 does not rotate with v the cam 126.

Rather, the stabilizer 128 reciprocates as the cam 126 rotates. For example, when the cam 126 rotates from the full line to the dotted line position of FIG. 19, the stabilizer 128 takes the dotted line position thereof. Note the finger portion 129 moves laterally of the lug 131. And when the cam 126 is rotated from the full line position of FIG. 19 to the dotted line position, thereof, the stabilizer 128 reciprocates back toward its original full 7 line position of FIG. 19. Thus, although the wobble gear 132 is not fixed to the connecting shaft 119, it reciprocates as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20.

This oscillatable-type movement by the shoulders of the wobble gear 132 is transmitted to the rachet 134 by the shoulders 132 intermittently drivingly engaging one or more of the ratchet teeth, thus effecting a rotation of the ratchet wheeel 134 and thus the shaft 119. The resulting rate of rotation of the shaft 119 is considerably less than the rotational rate of the drive wheel 93, a reduced rate being effected by the wobble gear arrangement. As the drive wheel 93 and drive plate 128 are free to move on the connecting shaft 119 at will, their rotation is not affected by the stop plate 137.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and disclosed herein, it is to be remembered that various alterations can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A vertical Venetian blind comprising in combination:

carrier means including a plurality of carriers arranged in face-to-face positions, one of said carriers at one end thereof in a fixed position and the remainder thereof relatively movable; pantograph means directly interconnecting said carriers; means supporting said carriers for movement thereof in a horizontal plane, said one carrier releasably connected to said supporting means; and means including a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted on said supporting means and having a continuous cord trained thereabout, said cord connected to a second of said carriers at an end thereof opposite said one end for expanding and contracting said carriers toward and away from said fixed carrier, said carriers movable in response to movement of said cord toward said second carrier in a contracted position upon release of said one carrier. 2. A control apparatus for moving a vertical Venetian blind louver horizontally and for rotating the louver about a vertical axis comprising in combination:

a rotatable elongated gear shaft disposed horizontally and rotatable about its horizontal axis;

a continuous cord having a pair of straight, parallel runs disposed in a horizontal plane on opposite sides of and parallel to said gear shaft; and

a carrier unit for a louver comprising a member having a pair of transversely spaced passages formed therein for receiving said runs which pass therethrough, said body having an aperture formed therein intermediate said passages for receiving said gear shaft, a reciprocal rack mounted within said body for meshed engagement with said gear shaft, and said body including further a gear stem in meshed engagement with said rack and movable about a vertical axis, said gear stem having a stem portion externally of said body for engagement With the louver.

3. A control apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further wherein rotation of said gear shaft through a arc effects a 180 rotation of said stem portion and the louver.

4. In a vertical blind, means for rotating a shaft comprising in combination:

bracket means having an upstanding portion;

an elongated rod one end of which is rotatably supported in said upstanding portion and the other end of which is driveably engageable with the shaft;

driven means concentric with and rotatably mounted on said rod;

means secured to and rotatable with said driven means and including a cam eccentric as to the longitudinal axis of said rod;

shoulder means rotatably mounted on said eccentric cam and movable through an arc in response to rotation of said cam; and

means engageable with said shoulder means and rotatable thereby and securely mounted on said rod.

5. In a vertical blind, means for rotating a shaft comprising in combination:

bracket means having an upstanding portion. and a generally horizontal portion;

an elongated rod one end of which is rotatably supported in said upstanding portion and the other end of which is driveably engageable with the shaft;

driven means concentric with and rotatably mounted on said rod:

means secured to and rotatable. with said driven means and including a cam eccentric as to the longitudinal axis of said rod;

upstanding shoulder means engageable with said horizontal portion and rotatably mounted on said cam for relative movement thereto, said shoulder means movable in said upstanding position through an arc in response to rotation of said cam; and

means engageable with and rotated by said shoulder means at a reduced rate inresponse to rotation of said shoulder means, and securely mounted on said rod.

6. In a vertical Venetian blind, means for rotating a shaft comprising in combination:

bracket means having an upstanding portion and a generally horizontal portion,

an elongated rod one end of which is rotatably supported in said upstanding position and the other end of which is adapted for driving engagement with the shaft;

driven means rotatably mounted on said rod;

eccentric means secured to said driven means and including an eccentric cam relative. to the longitudinal axis of said rod;

plate means rotatably mounted on said eccentric cam, said plate means movable in all directions a limited distance, engageable with said horizontal portion and thereby maintained against direct rotation with said eccentric cam, said plate means including a plurality of opposed shoulders; and

a circular ratchet secured at its center to said rod and a stem having an elongated slot formed longitudinally axially therein;

a louver having a hem at one end thereof forming an open loop, the hem adapted to receive said slotted stem inserted into said loop; and

a flexible element inserted into said loop and through said slot to positively secure said flexible element to said stern, said flexible element having at least a pair of legs reversely bent at one portion upon one another and sprung away from each other into engagement with the said stem at opposite ends of said slot, one leg having a hook formed at the end opposite said bent portion and having a length from said bent portion approximately one-half the length of the other leg as measured from said bent portion, said flexible element immovable outwardly of said slot in a direction toward said bent portion and movable outwardly of said slot in an opposite direction, the other leg engaging also said louver hem whereby to maintain said louver hem in a taut condition.

A Venetian blind comprising in combination:

stem having an elongated slot formed longitudinally axially therein, said stern having a convex curvature at one end of said slot;

a louver having a hem at one end thereof forming an open loop, the hem adapted to receive said slotted stem inserted into said loop; and

a flexible element inserted into said loop and through said slot to positively secure said flexible element to said stem, said flexible element having a length approximately the width of the louver and including at least two legs extended Within the same plane and resiliently sprung away from each other, one leg having approximately one-half the length of the other leg and having further a hook formed at the free end thereof, said hook of a concave formation for releasable engagement with said convex slot and, the other leg engageable intermediate its length with said stem at the other end of said slot and also engageable with said louver hem on an inner surface thereof to maintain said louver hem in a taut con dition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,055,816 9/1936 Dodge 160176 2,304,934 12/1942 Lawson 160176 2,386,695 10/1945 Lister-Torsen 160172 2,755,854 7/11956 Mclntire 160166 2,827,113 3/1958 Graham 160172 2,996,115 9/1961 Klenz 160-168 3,014,525 12/1961 Zytka 160168 3,061,005 10/1962 Bopp et al 160176 3,079,988 3/1963 Green 160168 3,142,356 7/1964 Rich 182228 X FOREIGN PATENTS 637,774 3/1962 Canada. 373,277 12/ 1963 Switzerland.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner. P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A VERTICAL BLIND, MEANS FOR ROTATING A SHAFT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: BRACKET MEANS HAVING AN UPSTANDING PORTION; AN ELONGATED ROD ONE END OF WHICH IS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID UPSTANDING PORTION AND THE OTHER END OF WHICH IS DRIVEABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SHAFT; DRIVEN MEANS CONCENTRIC WITH AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROD; MEANS SECURED TO AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID DRIVEN MEANS AND INCLUDING A CAM ECCENTRIC AS TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ROD; 